CLASS NOTES IN MEMORIAM
James R. Mattecheck ’80 died on September 27, 2020. He worked for more than 40 years in the software sales industry, mentoring and building strong relationships. He was active in the recovery community and believed in the importance of supporting others in recovery. His Sunday night dinners will always be treasured by his kids as an opportunity for good food and a time to catch up and connect. In the words of a dear friend, “Depression was a formidable foe; he couldn’t find his way to light in the darkness.” Survivors include four siblings; his wife, Kristina; their two children; first wife, Mary; and their four daughters. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the National Alliance on Mental Illness or Deschutes Land Trust. Scott Martin Niedermeyer ’84, loving husband and father of four children, died at the age of 58 on September 15, 2020. He was the youngest of Linus and Beverly
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PORTLAND
(Briles) Niedermeyer’s five children. He summited Mount Hood more than a dozen times, as well as other mountains in the Cascades, hiked the Pacific Crest trail at 12, and was happiest in the mountains and near the water, particularly when he shared those adventures with his wife, Stacy; their children; and family and friends. “As Scott departs on his next adventure, hiking his way to heaven, he no doubt packed a lunch and will arrive with an excellent story of the journey,” according to his family. Survivors include Stacy and their children; his father, Linus; and four siblings. Carmen Frances Carroll ’86 of Portland, died Sunday, August 16, 2020, due to complications from Alzheimer’s and COVID-19. She was a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes in North Dakota and, according to her obituary, always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Carmen and her late husband, Bill, had two daughters, Amber Lee and Kelly Jo; Bill and Kelly predeceased her. She was a devoted Sunday School teacher, volunteer, Girl Scout leader, Bible Study Fellowship leader, and missionary on the Burns Indian Reservation and in Oaxaca, Mexico. “Carmen was fully immersed in the lives of her grandchildren and loved them deeply,” according to her family. “She was a very engaged grandparent, attending their many school and sporting events, taking them to local attractions, and sacrificing her bonus room for Barbie parties, playing store, arts and crafts, and the occasional dental floss spider web.” Survivors include her daughter, Amber; three grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Lucas Robert Adams ’16 passed away suddenly due to cardiac arrest on May 31, 2020. He joined the US Air Force in September 2000 and completed training to be a pararescue jumper in 2006. During his career, Luke was deployed around the world, completing rescue missions on land and in water, bringing to life the Pararescue Jumper motto, “That others may live.” Luke is survived by his loving wife, Shea; their precious children, Sawyer and Asher; and his parents and siblings. Donations in Luke’s honor can be made to Lucas Adams Memorial Fund at Four Corners Community Bank in Farmington, NM, or to That Others May Live Foundation. FACULTY, STAFF, FRIENDS Claudia Antoinette (Robins) Harrington passed away on July 5, 2020. The field of medicine ran in the family, according to her obituary. She spent most of her career caring for children in intensive care in Portland and taught in the University of Portland’s School of Nursing from August 1993 until July 2004. In retirement she worked in the local wine industry and self-published a book, The Bicycling Wine Tourist: Hidden Gems in Oregon Wine Country. A second book on the Walla Walla wine industry was interrupted by a brain tumor, and Claudia spent the last eighteen months of her life in Seattle with her daughter, Andrea “Andie” Long. She is survived by Andie and all five of her siblings, Lanny, Bodie, Roque, Eddie, and Nancy. Louella M. Webb died on August 17, 2020. She and
her husband, Norman Webb ’75, shared an interest in higher education, establishing the Norman and Louella Webb Endowed Scholarship in 2006 to benefit undergraduate students majoring in engineering at UP. She lived with steadily worsening impairment from multiple sclerosis for more than 50 years. According to her family, “Through it all, Lou never lost her ability to engage others in conversation about their interests, to manage her household, keep up with her growing family, and contribute to the community. Her focus was always on others, never on the difficulties that took more and more of her energy.” Lou is survived by her devoted husband, Norm; two children; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one greatgreat-grandchild. Lou and Norm’s son David predeceased her. Contributions in Lou’s memory may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dale Alan Boyd, age 55, passed away on August 9, 2020. He was a shy, quiet, and hard-working man. He loved music, especially his favorite band, KISS. He was a collector and loved to work in his garden tending roses. Dale worked at the University of Portland for 20 years as a janitor. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Carla Denise (Orne) Boyd; three brothers; nephews; and two greatnieces who all adored their Uncle Dale. “Until we meet again, Dale: uncle, best friend to many, son, brother, kind and loving soul. If so inclined, please make a donation to the American Diabetes Association in Dale’s name.”
BOB KERNS
Christine Mary Katica ’78 died on September 10, 2020, in Vancouver, WA. After earning her MBA on The Bluff, she began her career as marketing services manager at Columbia Sportswear Company. As part of her career Christine traveled extensively and gained a great love and respect for other cultures of the world. She retired from Columbia in 2008. “Christine was beautiful, graceful, artistic, sassy, smart, and a lot of fun,” according to her family. “She will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends.” Christine is survived by her two sons, John and Daniel Harrison, and five siblings.
FOR THE LOVE OF IT
Grace and the Woodshop THE WOODSHOP AT the Holy Cross Court has become a place of refuge, especially during these days of endless video conferences. The stacks of maple, red oak, and cherry and our saws, planes, and chisels beckon us to imagine and create. Along with my fellow CSCs, I’ve turned salvaged dorm room furniture and fallen campus trees into cutting boards, altars, cabinets, and even an icon of St. Joseph the Worker, patron saint of the Holy Cross Brothers. As priests and brothers we gather daily around Christ’s altar of sacrifice to turn humble bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus, for the salvation of the world. In this most important act of faith we participate in the transformation of simple matter into sublime and sacred realities. It is not so different in the woodshop. We trade our stoles and chasubles for aprons and safety glasses as we stand before
the workbench, once again calling on the Holy Spirit to help us transform the ordinary into something extraordinary: the presence of God, now in the guise of western redcedar and American chestnut, figured with birdseyes, fiddlebacks, and spaltings. We marry chocolatey black walnut to silvery Oregon white oak. We shape and sand rough boards into elegant pieces that shimmer under the cloak of a teak oil finish. Our bench then becomes another altar and our shop another chapel, where we offer the sacrifice of our creativity and God’s grace again enters the world.
FR. DAN PARRISH, CSC, ’96 teaches business management for UP’s Pamplin School of Business. His icon of St. Joseph the Worker is portrayed on the back cover of this issue.
WINTER 2021
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